Improvement in trunks



C. F. WESTON. TRUNKS.

No. 195,680 Patented Sept. 25,1877.

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ILIJI PATENT QFFICE.

:QHABLES F. WESTON, OF ORLEANS, NEW YORK.

.IMRRQVEMENT IN TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,680, dated September 25, 1877; application filed August 14, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES FREDERICK WESTON, of Orleans, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lid- Protectors for Trunks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to strengthen and brace the lids of traveling-trunks.

I provide the edge of the lid which joins the trunk with a U-shaped iron, extending across the front and ends, so that when the lid is closed said iron embraces the upper edge of the trunk-body and its corners, in a manner to afford a very effectual protection and brace to the lid, relieving its hinges of the destructive effects of strain and concussion in handling.

The lid is braced by the device lengthwise and crosswise of the trunk, as the U-shaped iron forms a lapping socket over the upper edge of the trunk-body. Combined with this bracing-iron, and within its socket, are crosstongues, which fit into notches in the edge of the body when the lid is closed to form additional stages to the lid. Screws, passing through the lapping edges of the U-shaped irons, may take the place of the cross-tongues.

In the drawings, Figure lrepresents a trunk with my invention applied thereto; Fig.2, a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the lid and body; Fig. 3, an inverted view of a portion of the angle or corner of the trunk-lid, and Fig. 4 a detail sectional view, showing the cross-tongue brace.

The protectingdevice consists of a U-shaped iron, secured by screw-bolts a to the under edge of the front and ends of the lid A, and corresponding to its angles. It is made of malleable iron, and as light as possible. The

space between its depending sides b is just sufficient to receive the upper edge of the front and ends of the trunk-body B and the device is secured to fit accurately at the angles, so that when the lid is closed its joining-edge will form a socket by the inside and outside laps b b for the front and ends of the trunk in a manner to very effectually protect and brace the lid lengthwise and crosswise against sudden thrusts and strains in handling the trunk, as it is obvious that the sides b b, extending alike on the inner and outer sides of the trunk, must brace the lid firmly at all points.

The U-form of the protector makes it very convenient to form between its depending sides cross-tonguescadapted to fit into notches d across the edge of the trunk, and thus afford additional braces to the lid.

I prefer to have these tongues each side of the corners, for if the connection of the lid with the base is well braced and strengthened at the angles the durability of the trunk will be very greatly increased.

At the corners the depending sides b b may beincreasedin depth and provided with coincident holes e to receive screw-boltsf, which pass through the laps and the trunk-body; and for this purpose these screw-bolts are provided with square heads, and the trunk-key adapted thereto has a wrench.

The back part of the lid may be provided by an inside projecting lip secured in any suit able way. It need only extend, however, three or four inches from the angles, so as to make a good bracing connection with the ends of the Ushaped irons.

In cheap trunks the screws might be omitted, and depending sides of the U-shaped iron made just deep enough to embrace the inner and outer sides of the trunk-body when the lid is closed.

The device may be made of any suitable material, and secured in any suitable way.

The protecting device may, if desired, be secured to the upper edge of the body of the trunk, but I prefer the plan shown as being the best.

The notches for receiving the bracing-tongues may be cased with metal, and also the holes in the body of the trunk for receiving the fastening-screws.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a trunk, of the U-shaped iron device extending around the ping sides, and adapted to be secured in place by screws, for the purpose stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FREDERICK WESTON.

Witnesses GEORGE L. PBIGE, WILLIAM AUSTIN LAMB. 

